Southwest and AirTran Get Routes to Mexico

Southwest Airlines and its subsidiary AirTran Airways won new route authority from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for AirTran to operate international flights to new destinations in Mexico beginning in May 24, 2012.

To celebrate the new service, AirTran launched a sale with fares of $109 one-way between the new destinations. Customers must book by Dec. 19, 2011.

AirTran's new international flights will include one daily roundtrip between Orange County, Calif., and Cabo San Lucas/San Jose del Cabo and one daily roundtrip between Orange County and Mexico City. AirTran also will initiate four weekly roundtrip flights between San Antonio and Cancun as well as one daily roundtrip flight between San Antonio and Mexico City.

Examples of these one-way fares include:

AirTran new service beginning May 24, 2012 (open for sale today): • $119 one-way between San Antonio and Cancun • $119 one-way between San Antonio and Mexico CityAirTran new service beginning June 3, 2012 (open for sale today): • $119 one-way between Orange County and Cabo San Lucas/San Jose del Cabo • $109 one-way between Orange County and Mexico City

Currently, all reservations for AirTran flights—including international destinations—must be booked on www.airtran.com or by calling AirTran reservations at (800) 247-8726. Southwest Customers can now see AirTran's nonstop international routes on southwest.com through its new web referral tool which links Customers directly to www.airtran.com.

When customers select an international itinerary from a nonstop destination on Southwest's site, they will then be directed to www.airtran.com where they can complete the booking process. All flights booked on www.airtran.com will be subject to AirTran's policies and procedures.

To support the new international flights out of Orange County's John Wayne International Airport, a market AirTran does not currently serve, AirTran will add domestic service between San Francisco and Orange County with one daily roundtrip flight, and one daily roundtrip flight between Las Vegas and Orange County, beginning June 3, 2012.